Hebrew Christmas

My intention this morning is to do a bit of boasting! [P] I want to boast about what my Father gave me for Christmas! At the Christmas season we tend to read certain passages of Scripture, accounts of Jesus’ birth, prophecies of His coming and such like. So, ….. can we turn to a familiar passage: Hebrews chapter 1? [P] [Hebrews 1:1–4 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. [P] And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.] May God bless the reading of His Word. Two more sleeps! Are you getting excited? Christmas is an exciting time, at least if you are a kid, and still is for some others of us (Eh, John?!). There is the anticipation, the preparation, the waiting, the looking-forward-to, then the culmination when you receive your gifts. And if there is anticipation, excitement and culmination here on earth at Christmas; how much more in heaven?! For one thing the preparation and waiting had been going on much longer! [P] The great wait It says there in Hebrews 1:1 that “God spoke long ago” – this had been a looong time coming! Christmas seems to come upon us quickly, now that I am old; but, can you remember what a long wait it was when you were a kid? It seemed like it would never come! God spoke, said what was coming, but the wait had been long. [P] It is a wonderful thing that God speaks! Some people are what are known as “deists” – they believe in god, but think god just started things going, then left things to run for themselves. He is up there in heaven but he doesn’t interact with this world, with man. We are not deists! God speaks! Hallelujah! Francis Schaeffer wrote a book titled: “The God who is there”; then he wrote another book: “He is there and He is not silent”! Bless His Name! יהוה speaks! We speak because we want something, or to tell how our week has been, express what we think. But God speaks in order to make Himself known, to reveal Himself! And He has been progressively doing it for a long time: some 6,000 years, ever since He created the world. Even before then! Right from the very beginning God’s intention was to communicate Himself. How do you communicate? How do you speak? With words! [P] [John 1:1–2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.] This communication of God, His speaking has always existed, it been going a long time: [1 Peter 1:20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.] יהוה has been building up to this great revelation of Himself for a long time. [P] The great preparation Then it says that “long ago God spoke in the prophets in many portions and many ways” There was this big wait, but the communication was going on, building, God was preparing the way for the great revelation. [P] There was this great preparation going on. What great preparation goes in before Christmas: the decorating, buying presents, wrapping presents, baking – getting everything ready. And God had been preparing the way: many prophets, with many messages, coming in different forms: dreams, visions, words, acted out in lives, poetry, proclamations. They knew they were onto something. They had hints, glimpses of it. It was like each of these many portions and ways was a piece of a jigsaw puzzle and they were trying to work out what it was all leading to, what the whole picture was: [1 Peter 1:10–12 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look. 2 Peter 1:19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.] There was this outline, this image; they were trying to make out the substance of what it was. The missionaries to the tribes in New Guinea try to explain the sacrifice of a lamb – but the people there have never seen a sheep. How do make them know what a sheep is? You can describe it: like a pig but with fluffy hair all over it. You could draw a picture, a photo would be better, maybe a stuffed toy. But there ain’t anything like the real thing! The prophets only had glimpses, none of them had the whole picture. But then came: [P] The great culmination It came to “these last days”! Everything had been leading up to, pointing to something. Now the great day had arrived: “the last days” when God would bring to pass the things that He had been telling His prophets. The great culmination! [P] The preparation had been going on for a long time. Beth starts buying for Christmas at the Boxing-day sales! She has been preparing for a whole year. The presents have been bought, wrapped, the cake baked, the place decorated – it is all building up to something! The excitement peaks! the culmination on Christmas day. It has arrived! John is up at 4:00 AM bouncing on the bed asking Beth if he can open his presents! The preparation had been building; now the time had come: [P] [Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,] The culmination, what made these the last days is God sending His Son. Many have noticed themes in the writing of John: life, light, truth, I am etc. but perhaps the most prominent theme in the book of John is “SEND” – 47 times! That is the big deal, that is the great culmination, that what happened in “these last day” God sent His Son. The messages of the prophets had been building, it was near! Simeon knew it! Didn’t he? He could sense it! [Luke 2:25–30 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (it was almost here!) And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, (it had happened! He had arrived! The culmination of all that prophetic preparation!) You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation!] [P] The great revelation had arrived! It said earlier that God “spoke long ago”, that was in the past, but it says “in these last days God has spoken” – that is now! God not only spoke long ago, He is speaking now! How does He speak? How do you speak? With words!! How does God speak?: In His Word! Not just the prophets, not just the Scriptures; now, in these last days the great revelation has come! [P] Hallelujah! Christmas day arrives and the presents are unwrapped – it is revealed what was inside – there you had been squeezing your presents that were under the tree, trying to work out what they were, but now it is revealed. God reveals Himself! It is a wonderous thing that God deigns to speak to us! But how can an Almighty Spirit Being communicate with limited, ignorant, fleshly man?! How can that Divine mind be comprehended by us ordinary people?! There was the Scripture, the were the prophets, many messages, images, pictures, types, symbols – but they were only hints, now the real thing had arrived! I used to have a photo of Rhoda in my wallet – it got so faded you could no longer tell who it was. I had that picture when we were engaged – and I used to look at it and think of the one I loved. But it was there my wallet for years and I seldom noticed it. Why? Because had the real thing! Lovely as the photo was – the smile was fixed, it didn’t respond. It didn’t capture all of who Rhoda is. Now the great revelation of God Himself had come: the WORD! God speaking – not in concepts, doctrines, parables and analogies – but in a person!! Hallelujah! [P] [John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the unique one from the Father, full of grace and truth.] Revelation of the TRUTH. Here was God! How do you communicate with a man? By being a man! Jesus became a man! [1 Timothy 3:16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh,] We use this fancy word: “incarnation” – but we all know what carnivores are: animals that eat meat. Ask Tatiana what “carne” is: it is meat, flesh. Jesus became meat, took on literal flesh and blood. God who is spirit appeared in a body just like us. It is so staggering, that Paul repeats the fact – it is like he can’t get over the wonder of what actually happened: [Philippians 2:6–8 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man!] The great revelation: God revealed in a form that we could relate to and understand. This was Christmas! This was [P] The great Gift God has spoken: “IN HIS SON!” This was the greatest gift ever given! Hallelujah! Why do we give gifts at Christmas? Because at that first Christmas the greatest Gift was given; and we in return respond in giving – freely we have received, so freely we give. The most well-known verse in the whole Bible states: [P] [John 3:16 “God so loved the world, that [P] He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.] God’s great gift [P] An exceedingly precious gift! Of supreme value! When there is something we really want we sometimes say: “I would give the world to have/do ….” But for God to “give the world” is easy – I mean, He just spoke it into being. It wouldn’t cost Him that dear, He could make another with the breath of his mouth. The value of a gift is determined by how much it costs you. The most costly thing I have, in dollar terms, is our house. But if that house was on fire and Hannah was inside; and it was a question of saving Hannah or the house ….. I wouldn’t have to think to decide. There is no choice! My child is of infinitely greater value. God could make another world but He GAVE His ONE AND ONLY SON – there was no other. This gift cost יהוה dear!!! A verse I often put on Christmas cards is: [P] [2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!] What a Gift! None other like it! Nothing of greater value, more precious! [Romans 8:32 God did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all,] There used to be a song that went: “You can give without love, but you can’t love without giving” – giving is love being expressed. The greater, the costlier the gift; the greater the love: [1 John 4:9–10 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His one and only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.] Here was the great Christmas gift announced by heavenly messengers: [Luke 2:10–12 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today (it had happened, the great culmination) in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, (the Gift had been given) who is Christ the Lord. (the Messiah was revealed!) “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”] Jesus is the great gift: [P] [Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, [P] a son will be given to us;] A Son has been given. Many children have been born; but there was only one Son to give. The greatest gift of all! May we never lose the wonder at what has been given! Sometimes we have a flash of inspiration and say: “I’ve just thought of the perfect gift for so-and-so!” But this Gift truly was the PERFECT gift! [P] How so? What was perfect about this Gift? Jesus is the [P] perfect portrayal of יהוה, of God Himself! Hebrews goes on to say: “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature,” God dwells in unapproachable light, glorious! Here is the “radiance of His glory” – God displayed in all His glory! The exact representation of His nature – exactly as God is! [P] The perfect portrayal of God! Some brashly, and somewhat naïvely, speak of coming into God presence. God is GLORIOUS! They want to see God! Look I have a hole burned in the retina of one of my eyes. The optometrist reckons I looked at the sun once. Burned a hole in my eye at 150 million Km away! They are going to send a special probe to the sun, best technology there is to preserve it from the glorious radiation emanating from the sun – it is going to get real close! Yeah, 3.8 million Km! You can’t get near the sun and survive! And the sun is just a small star, one of countless trillions. יהוה outshines them all! See God in His glory?!! Remember Moses wanted to see that glory: [Exodus 33:18–23 Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” ‘….. But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” Then יהוה said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. “Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.” But in Jesus we have the radiance of His glory! No wonder John is staggered by what he has witnessed: [1 John 1:1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at …..] I actually saw it! He said: [John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time; the one and only God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.] Jesus revealed יהוה! John also said: [John 1:14 we saw His glory, glory as of the only one from the Father, full of grace and truth.] Truth – God as He really is! In Jesus we see the glory of God in all its radiance! Paul said: [2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” (that is the first act of creation: “Let there be light!”, the light is revelation. And He has done an even more stupendous act: a new creation) is the One who has shone in our hearts (the light of revelation) to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.] In Jesus we have seen the glory of God! In the face of Jesus Christ! A perfect, exact representation of all who God is! Hallelujah! You see Jesus, you see God! You cannot look upon God, but we do see Jesus! Hallelujah! Jesus’ disciples were men with a hunger for God. Jesus spoke about His Father; but it was all a bit confusing and mystical, they didn’t understand; so Philip said, “Look, just show us the Father and we will be satisfied”; then [John 14:9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? [P] He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?] Earlier Jesus had said in: [John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.”] Paul, writing to the Colossians, said: [Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God,] God is invisible, but in Jesus you can see Him! He went on to say: [Colossians 1:19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,] then: [Colossians 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,] All that is God is in Jesus! If you see Jesus, you see God! A perfect and exact portrayal! In Jesus you see the heart and nature of God Himself – a heart loves with a love that lays down its life for another. Jesus is the perfect gift because He perfectly portrays God but He is also the [P] perfect sacrifice: it says: “He had made purification of sins”. How did Jesus do that? [1 Peter 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross,] – He made purification for sins by dying on the cross. A perfect spotless “Lamb” died in our place. [John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!] Lambs were sacrificed to purify from sin – but it didn’t really work. For one thing, a lamb is not a moral being, it has no sense of right or wrong. It may be spotless physically, but it cannot be faultless morally. A morally perfect sacrifice [P] was needed to truly purify from sin. [Hebrews 10:4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10:11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;] It didn’t work! [Hebrews 9:9 both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience] We need a perfect sacrifice to purify us, make us perfect. Most are born with the intention and purpose of living; Jesus was born with the whole purpose of dying! [P] [Titus 2:14 says: Jesus gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, (a perfect moral sacrifice) cleanse your conscience (purify it) from dead works to serve the living God?] Jesus made purification for sin, through His blood shed on the cross: [ 1 John 1:7 the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.] The multitude of animals killed accomplished nothing but now here was ONE perfect sacrifice that was effective: [Hebrews 10:12–14 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.] He has made purification for sin! Bless His Name! [1 John 4:9–10 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His one and only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.] By this He Himself has been made perfect: [Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the Author of their salvation through sufferings. Hebrews 7:28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.] [P] The perfect Gift! Because He perfectly accomplished that which He was sent to do: [P] Mission accomplished It says: “He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” – there in heaven. His mission for which He was sent was accomplished [P]. I work in a lab, and the first stop for specimen for testing is registration. There they bar-code the specimens, log in the patient details and tests to be done. Everything depends upon what they put in the computer. Now I work on Saturday, and there are only a couple on in registration; and they are busy! Specimens coming through the Lampson tube, over the front desk, from the blood test centre, from bins from the couriers. They are up and down collecting the work as it pours in. They are so busy that a lot of them, rather than getting up and down all the time, don’t sit down at the computer to enter details; They remain standing all the time. They are little Philippinos and Chinese – the bench is at the right level standing. But come the afternoon, the ward rounds are in, the work is done and they get to sit down. You sit down when the work is finished. In the tabernacle and temple, the work was never finished: [Hebrews 10:11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;] Jesus on the other hand: [P] [Hebrews 10:12–14 but Jesus, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.] Jesus sat down because He had finished the work He came to do. On the cross, just before He died Jesus said: [John 19:30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.] The word “finished” means “perfected” and it is in the perfect tense – perfectly perfected: finished, accomplished. Jesus finished the work that He came to do. Done perfectly! He is perfect because He perfectly accomplished what He was sent to do. [John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.] It was mission accomplished: [John 17:4 “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.] How do we know that it is accomplished? Because He has sat down at the right hand of God. And God has endorsed Him, giving Him the Name, which is above all names! Hallelujah! He is [P] The Greatest It says “He has inherited a more excellent name” Jesus always was the greatest but now by His perfect work He is endorsed by יהוה Himself as the greatest! [P] What was always His, He has received as His inheritance, a lasting possession given to Him by God: [P] [Philippians 2:9–11 For this reason also, (because of His perfect sacrifice by which He made purification for sin) God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.] All subordinate to the One who is the greatest. Truly Jesus is the GREATEST – He has been given that status by יהוה Himself! None can compare with Him! With the GIFT that was given at Christmas! John may be proud of his new rod and reel; Johnathon may be stoked with what his Dad gave him; but they are nothing compared with what my Father gave me for Christmas!

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